For the Topping

Directions

1.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the center of oven. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper; set aside.

2.
To make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and salt. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press into bottom of pan using your fingertips.

3.
To make the topping: In another medium bowl, mix together chocolate chips and coconut; sprinkle evenly over crust.

4.
Pour condensed milk evenly over coconut and chips, covering the entire surface. Transfer to oven and bake, rotating pan halfway through baking, making sure the milk does not get too brown or bubble over in the pan, 26 to 32 minutes.

5.
Transfer baking pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 20 squares. Serve immediately, or wrap each bar tightly with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Most publishers consider a recipe to be new/adapted if one major ingredient is different, the technique is different, or the proportions are significantly different. This recipe MORE than qualifies compared to the Magic Cookie bars. Several ingredients are omitted, topping ingredients are mixed, not layered, the crust to topping ratio has changed, etc. After all, every baking book has pound cake, chocolate cake, and key lime pie, but we don't accuse them of "ripping off" those!

No big fuss about who invented them, but these are obviously Magic Cookie Bars. Te original is better since it piles more stuff on top: butterscotch chips, walnuts or pecans, white chocolate chips---just about anything.
Good recipe for using up bits and bobs left from other recipes.

I don't see why all the uproar about a tweaking of an old recipe. nearly everything on the show, in the magazine or here are things that have been done before and are updated (sometimes) and presented. I don't think they ever say they invented them, but I may be wrong. My mom has recognized tons of things from the craft mags of the 60's and 70's. I guess there is nothing new under the sun in the craft/cooking world, just edited a bit.

I don't see why all the uproar about a tweaking of an old recipe. nearly everything on the show, in the magazine or here are things that have been done before and are updated (sometimes) and presented. I don't think they ever say they invented them, but I may be wrong. My mom has recognized tons of things from the craft mags of the 60's and 70's. I guess there is nothing new under the sun in the craft/cooking world, just edited a bit.

Sounds a lot like Magic Bars . : ) The lady that spritzed them with Grand Marnier, I would be concerned about children eating them and people that are recovering alcoholics so I would bake that right in the recipe to cook out the alcohol while just having the flavor. Still it might be a concern for recovering alcoholics because of the flavor. Cranberries, dark chocolate, and chocolate grahams sound great!

I added 1Cup dried cranberries and used dark chocolate chips. After they came out of the oven I lightly spritz them with Grand Marnier They were too good. The only dish at our potluck that was completely devoured. Noot a crumb left.